Tamper proof envelope



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. S. FERDON TAMPER PROOF ENVELOPE I5 20 f r d Ten! On Pcrfom tad Line, Plnoe-Iummnd Tog On nciosures 24 43-2-0-9-0-9 FIG. I.

June 25, 1957 Filed March 22. lgss INVENTOR WILLIAM S. FERDON June 25, 1957 w. s. FERDON TAMPER PROOF ENVELOPE Filed March 22, 1955 w 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,mvENrOR" WILLIAM s FERDON United States Patent 2,797,042 TAMPER PROOF ENVELOPE William S. Ferdon, Birmingham, Ala. Application March 22, 1955, Serial No. 495,866 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-80) This invention relates to envelopes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved envelopes for protecting legal documents, wills, trust agreements and the like from tampering or having the contents seen by unauthorized persons.

It is another object of the present invention to provide improved envelopes of the above type which are particularly valuable for couriers or the like who carry from place to place secret documents.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide improved envelopes of the above type which will be useful in transmitting money, drafts or funds through the mail as well as being applicable to many other uses.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide improved envelopes having the above objects in mind which are of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, have a minimum number of parts, are easy to use and efiicient in manufacture.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a modified form of the present invention; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of a still further modified form of the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 3, indicates generally an inner envelope having a rectangular back wall 11, the inwardly folded triangular end flaps 12, the upwardly folded bottom flap 13 secured across the end flaps 12 and the closure flap 14 integrally formed to the back wall 11 along the fold line 15, substantially as illustrated.

The closure flap 14 is provided with a perforated line 15 which forms a detachable tab 16, the closure flap adjacent the perforated line being provided with suitable indicia such as Tear on perforated lines, Place gummed tag on enclosures.

An outer envelope construction is provided on the reverse face of the main wall 11 of the inner envelope and includes the main wall 17 integrally formed with the end flaps 18, the bottom flap 19 and the closure flap 20 (Fig. 2). A gummed tab 21 is secured to the closure flap 20 at one end and to the bottom flap 19 at the other with the end flaps 18 therebelow and to retain the envelope in a compact form ready for use upon breaking the tab 21.

In use, the secret documents are placed in the inner envelope 10 and the closure flap 14 sealed thereto. The tab 16 is then removed along the perforated line 15 and pasted on a card, not shown, containing the name, address and description of the person sealing the inner envelope. The tab 21 is then broken and the bottom flap 19, side or each side of the perforated line 15 always be compared and would 2,797,042 Patented June 25, 1957 end flaps 18 and closure flap 20 are reversed from the position of Fig. 2 to be folded across the sealed inner envelope 10. A certifying officer may certify the foregoing operations on the narrow outer face of the bottom flap 19, certifying that the person sealing the inner envelope did appear before him on such and such a date on such and such a time and such and such a place and place the document in the inner envelopes in his presence and attach the stub 16 which was mailed by registered mail to a particular addressee. The bottom flap 19 is provided with the gummed surfaces for securing the same over the end flaps 18, these gummed surfaces being indicated at 22. Non-secret instructions or the like may then be placed in this second envelope as well as information as to whom or where the identification card was sent. The outer envelope is then sealed by means of the gummed portions 23 provided on the closure flap 20 and the outer envelope is then addressed on the main wall 17 in the usual manner.

Although any suitable form of securement of the flaps to each other may be utilized, preferably vinyl gumming will be employed, this substance not being affected by humidity. Also, the perforated line 15 will deliberately be made irregularly to increase the identification between the tab 16 and the remaining portion of the closure flap 14. As shown in Fig. 1, the circles 24 are provided on with lines and upon tearing the tab 16 will separate to be later matched up to assure that the tab 16 is the same one as the one which was originally torn from the closure flap 14. Since the tab 16 has been placed on the record card, it can also be proof that the envelope had not been tampered with since the date of sealing; although circles 24 have been shown, any suitable indicia may be employed, for example saw teeth or other configurations. Or, the date might be stamped across the perforated line for later matching. The certification or legalization of the sealing of the inner envelope may appear on any suitable portion of the envelope. A rigid backing may, or may not be employed as desired. The invention may be employed by couriers Without requiring the signing in and signing out now required. The envelope may, of course, be employed in protecting and legally certifying the date of conception of an invention, to mention another use. The identification card may be provided with means of permanently identifying the article on one side and means of identifying the person sealing the inner envelope on the other, for example finger prints, pictures, descriptions and the like along with a signature comparison on the reverse side. The envelope may be used for transmitting letters of credit, for identifying time, place and \date that original documents were signed, sealed and delivered. It may also serve as a mailing vehicle with positive identification for wills, and other legal documents.

It should be apparent that there has. been provided an improved envelope formed from a pair of envelope blanks which are secured together into a unitary package with the envelope forming flaps of one envelope folded back- Wardly across the other envelope in a novel manner and wherein suitable indicia are provided on the reverse faces of the envelope forming flaps. It should also be apparent that the envelope is tamper-proof and cannot be reused without such use being apparent.

The invention may also be used with an inner envelope of the conventional side flap variety, the central wall thereof being secured to the central wall of the outer envelope of the aforesaid type. Furthermore, the inside envelope may be of any suitable type.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 4, there is shown a modification of the invention wherein an inner envelope is provided and includes a central wall 25 integrally formed along its upper longitudinal edge with a closure flap 26 having the gummed area 27, the central wall 25 29, in the same manner as the previous form. A tab 35' is formed in the closure flap 26 of the inner envelope along the perforated line 36 the same in the size, being particularly adapted for small envelopes.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 5, there is shown a still further modified form of the present invention wherein the inner envelope having a rectangular central Wall 36 is integrally formed with the closure flap 37 having the gummed marginal area 38 same contour as the closure velope rotated relative thereto.

of the invention shown in Fig. 5 is the same as that shown in Fig. 4 and the use of the same is substantially the same. While various changes may be made in the detail condefined by the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A sealed closure device in having a main central References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

